Sweets & Desserts

Traditional Christmas sweets like Panettone from Italy or German Lebkuchen have made it into supermarkets across the world. Others are less known beyond borders, although they deserve the same attention. One of those is...

As it gets closer to Christmas, hexagonal packages are popping up on supermarket shelves across Germany. The little window on one side of the packaging reveal a chocolate-glazed cylinder. It is one of Germany’s...

If you live somewhere in Europe or North America, you have probably stumbled upon Panettone at some point already. And even if you haven’t tried the traditional Christmas bread from Italy yet, it has...

While British cuisine doesn’t have the very best reputation, its Christmas treats can definitely keep up with those in rest of the world. Together with Christmas Pudding, Mince Pies are at the forefront of...

What’s better than Christmas Pudding, Mince Pies and fruitcake for Christmas? Christmas Pudding, Mince Pies and fruitcake with Brandy Butter! Just think of how the butter melts on some delicious, warm Christmas treats, releasing...

Are you wondering what the fuss is all about with these greasy, deformed donuts? Or are they onion rings? Actually, this traditional sweet is quite a unique, local specialty from Peru. Picarones, as they...

Close up, it looks like a colorful piece of art. Small crystals catching the light, shimmering in different shades. But what it actually is, won’t disappoint you either, because it is crazy delicious. Shaved...

Dampfnudeln are a type of yeast dumplings which are cooked and steamed simultaneously. This method creates a soft surface and a crunchy base is. That typical salty crust is the main difference to Germknödel...

You don’t have to live in Sicily to know about this pastry specialty. Cannoli Siciliani have spread to bakeries across Europe, and just by looking at this sweet deliciousness, there is no question about...

Macarons are French meringues made from almond flour, whose origin dates back to the Middle Ages. In France, bakeries and pastry shops produce a huge range of traditional macarons. Of all the variants, the...

Paçoca de amendoim is a traditional Brazilian sweet made from peanuts, cassava flour and sugar. It is typical of the rustic and local cuisine of Minas Gerais and São Paulo in the southeast of...

Sweets & Desserts Around The World

Food is one of the main reasons why traveling and exploring other cultures is so amazing. And what is always the best thing about food? Exactly, all the sweet stuff. That’s the case at home and it is same anywhere else. For that reason, we have an entire page dedicated to all the incredibly delicious sweets and desserts around the world.

Today, whenever we get the munchies, we simply grab a chocolate bar, a piece of cake or whatever else from the next café to satisfy our desire. And that is possible in almost every corner of the world. This was very different back in the days. Ancient civilizations often sacrificed sweets to their goods. Dried fruit and honey were probably the first sweeteners used in most of the world. Only with the spread of sugarcane through crusades and colonialization, proper desserts evolved all over the globe. but the spread of sugarcane around the world was essential to the development of dessert. But during those times, sugar was still only for the rich and not available to the normal people. Gladly this has changed and we now have a gigantic variety of sweets and desserts around the world that we can all enjoy.

Why is it called dessert?

The word “dessert” stems from the French word desservir, which means “to clear the table.” Thus, sweets dishes started being served as the final course in the 20th century. However, in certain parts of the world, there is no tradition of a dessert that closes a meal. This is the case, for instance, in most parts of China as well as much of western and central Africa. Of course, people in those regions love sweet stuff too, just not necessarily after a full meal.

No matter where you are in the world. Whether you eat sweet food as a dessert or as a sugary snack. As we all know, it can often boost your mood when needed or work as a reward. Especially when you are traveling and things don’t work out as expected, candy will help you. What better way to get over a missed flight or a 7 hour delay than a big dose of sugar in any form. But of course you have cravings or a need for a mood boost at home too. For that, we have collected the best and most authentic recipes so that you can enjoy the sweet stuff that other cultures have to offer at home too.

A huge variety of sweets and desserts around the world

There is an endless number of sweets and desserts out there. They come in all forms, tastes, types, and colors, from sweet street food to gourmet confections. What might be the most common and typical sweet in your home country, may be completely unknown or exotic in other parts of the world. Other cultures sometimes create desserts from ingredients like spices or fruits that might not even be available in your home country. They may use distinct methods for preparation or come up with combinations that you would never have thought could work. But nevertheless, there are also many recurring patterns in the desserts around the world

Common sweets include all kinds of fried and baked dough with or without fillings. Among this are many versions of sandwich cookies, pancakes or other pastries. Also different types of cakes, pies or tartes can be found across the globe. In addition, cold desserts are commonly found all around spanning from ice-creams and gelato to sorbets or shaved ice. Whatever the base may be, most cultures love adding some kind of topping. This ranges from chocolate or caramel sauce and vanilla custard to syrups, molasses or puree from exotic fruits. In some parts of the world, condensed milk is a recurring ingredient used for many kinds of sweets and desserts.

Some cultures sweeten foods that are more commonly savory to create desserts. This includes foods like sweet dumplings, sweet bread, sweet pizza-type dishes or sweet rice with fruits, among many others.